Feeding mechanism for sheet material



Get. 28 1924- Filed May 15, 1922. 2 Shams-Sheet l awuwvlim Homca. FGamnmattomaqs.

H. F. GRUMAN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SHEET MATERIAL Get 28 1924.

Filed May 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ECW Swowwtov mace, F. QRUMRN.

Momma- To all whom it may concern:

raema oer; 2a, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE F. GRUMAN, OIB JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

mmnma mncmmsm ron SHEET ma'rnamn Application filed m 15, 1922.- SerialNo. 561,188-

Be it known that 1, Homes F. GRUMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re-

sidin at Jackson, in the county'of Jackson and tate of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism forSheet Material, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanyin drawings. lhis invention relates tosheet feeding mechanisms such as are employed for automatically' feedingpaper, cloth, .or other sheet material to a knife blade or punch orother member acting on said material.

The invention consists in the structural features and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawingswhere1n:-

F igure 1 is a plan view of a machme equipped with the improved feedmechanism;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Figure 3 is a view of the same in cross section on line 33 of Figure l;

Figure 4 discloses the feed mechanism 1n perspective.

In these views the reference character A designates an open rectangularframe carried at a suitable elevation by legs A and B is a feed'tablesecured within the frame A and comprising a series of parallel barsextending from end to end of the table and spaced to form slots B. C, Cand D, D"

are lower'and upper co-acting feed members, the lower member comprisingbars I, respectively fitting in the slots B and term1- nally connectedbeneath the feed table by cross strips C, and the upper membercomprising spaced plates D transverse to the bars 0 and terminallyrigidly connected by bars D. The outermost bars C of the lower' feedmember carry pins E which slidably engage the bars D of the upper feedmember. Thus the two feed members are constrained to move in unison asregards any horizontal travel but may shift vertically to or from eachother F designates a main drive shaft upon which is mounted fastanoppositely projecting pair ofcams G and G respectively engaging nslotted heads H secured respectively to the IuIpper ends of a pair of slde bars H and 2 traveling in suitable guide ways H The lower extremitiesof said slide bars are connected by pitmen I to arms J and Jrespectively fast 11 onrock-shafts K and L. The shaft K furt ermorerigidly carries an arm K which is connected by a swingingbar M'to abracketM centrally depending'from the feed member 0, C. The

shaft L is mounted transversely in the delivery end portion ofthe frameA, extendmg below the feed table B, and a parallel shaft N iscorrespondingly mounted below the forward end of the lower feed member.Each shaft L and N rigidly carries a pair of bell cranks, one at eachside of the table B, each comprising a long arm 0 and short arm 0. Thefront and rear bell crank arms 0 at each side of the table B arepivotally connected by a horizontal bar P, the two bars P being adaptedto support the upper feed member through rollers Q, a pair of which ismounted upon each member AD projecting laterally from the exteremitiesthereof. The short arms 0- of the bell cranks respectively carry rollersR which engage beneath the end portions of. the outermost bars 0 of thelower feed member. 1

It is preferred to slot the arms J and J longitudinally, as indicated atS to permit adjustment of the pivot pins S whereby the pitmen I areattached to said arms, the efective length of the arms being thusregulable. There is further provideda pair of arch-shaped grip orhandle-pieces T upon the upper feed member, secured preferably to theside bars D thereof, whereby said member may be readily removed, ifdesired.

The distance of this feed may be adjusted through a considerable rangeby varyin the adjustment of the pins S in the. slots of the arms on theshaft K.

The described feed mechanism is applicable to cutters and numerous otherdevices which require a step by step advance of sheet material to amember acting thereupon.

In the operation of the described mechanism, the feed members 6, C- andD, D by the cam G are actuated periodically forward and back, therebeing intervals of rest at each end ofthe stroke, obtaining duringengagement of the circular edge portion of the cam with the top orbottom of the cam slot. Said feed members are actuated into or out ofclamping relation by the cam G, such relation being established whilethe feed members are at rest in their retracted ositions, and beingmaintained durin the orward stroke of said 'feed mem ers. While thelatter are at rest in their forward position, the work is operated uponin any desired manner, for example by the knife blade indicated at U)the clamping position of the feed .members bein maintained during suchoperation. While said members are still in their forward position theclamping members are released and the cam G then takes effect to retractsaid members. By reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the barsCof the lower feed memher, in coacting with the upper feed member toengage the work, rise slightly above the surface of the work table B. Inreleasing the work, said bars are depressed into the slots B allowingthe work to rest freely upon the table B.

What I'claim as my invention is 1'. In a feed mechanism, the combinationwith a work supporting table, of upper and lower feed members forengaging work upon said table, pins projecting from one of said members,establishing a drive to the other member as regards movement parallel tothe work supporting face of the table, and forming guides for the othermembers as regards movement of said members to or from each other, meansfor reciprocating the pin carrying member parallel to the worksupporting face, and means for actuatmg the feed members to and fromeach other.

2. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a work table, of a pair offeed members engageable above and below the work, means forreciprocating said members in unison parallel to the work supportingface of the table, and a plurality of bell cranks actuable in time-drelation with said reciprocating motion having corresponding armsconnected tothe upper feed member to raise or lower the same, and havingtheir other arms engaging the lower said member for actuating the lattersimultaneously with and reversely to the upper feed member.

3. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a suitable work tableformed with a series of parallel slots, of upper and lower feed members,the latter having elements engagin in said slots, bars at each side ofthe sai table supporting the upper side member and forming a runwaytherefor, bell cranks having'corresponding arms engaging said bars andhaving their other arms engaging beneath the lower feed member,

means for reciprocating said feedmembers in unison, and means forrocking said bell cranks in unison and in timed relation with saidreciprocating motion to v actuate said feed members to or from eachother.

4. In a feed mechanism for sheet material a pair of upper and lower workclamping members comprising bars, the former resting freely anddetachably upon the latter and means for reciprocating said members inunison.

5. In a feed mechanism for shcetmaterial a pair of reciprocatery upperand lower clamping members, hell cranks each having 1ts armsrespectively supporting said upper and lower members, and means forrocking said bell cranks in unison.

6. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a work table, of upper andlower feed members comprising a plurality of elongated members, meansfor reciprocating said feed members in unison parallel to the work suportingface of said table, and means for shiting said lower feed memberto and from the upper feed member in timed relation to saidreciprocating movement.

7. In' a feed mechanism, the combination with a work table, of a feedmember asso-. ciated with said table comprising a plurality of lowermembers and a plurality of upper members transverse to said lowermembers, means for reciprocating the feed member parallel to the worksupporting surface of thetable, and means for shifting the feed memberto and from said surface in timed relation to its reciprocatingmovement.

8. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a slotted work table, of afeed member comprising a pluralit of lower members engagin in the slots0 said table, and a plurality 0 upper members transverse thereto, meansfor reciprocating said feed member longitudinally of said slots, andmeans for raising and lowering said feed member in timed relation tosaid reciprocating movement.

9.. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a work table, of a pair ofupper and lower feed members comprising'a plurality of spaced members,said upper members being transverse to said lower members, means forreciprocating said feed. members in unison parallel to the worksupporting face of said table, and means for actuating said feed membersto and from each other in timed relation to said reciprocatingmovement., I I c 10. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a slottedwork table, of a plurality of upper spaced members and a plurality oflower spaced members transverse thereto forming a feed means, said lowerspaced members engaging in the slots of said table, means forreciprocating said members in unison longitudinally of said slots, andmeans for-actuating said upper and lower members to and from each otherin timed relation to said reciprocating movement.

11. In a feed mechanism, the combination with a work table, of a pair ofupper and lower feed elements comprising a plural-' ity of spacedmembers, sald members of theupper feed element being transverse to saidmembers of the lower feed element, said jfleach other in timed relationto said recipro- 10 elements being respectively engageable with, eatingmovement. the top and bottom faces of Work upon said In testimonywhereof I affix my signatable, means connecting said elements for''ture.

actuation, one from the other in a reoiprocating travel parallel to thework support- HORACE F. GRUMAN. ing surface of said table, means foreffecting Witnesses: such a reciprocating movement, and means DAVID R.COHEN,

for actuating said elements to and from R. J. CLARKE.

